Despite the prevalence and normalcy of books in our society today, they have not always been accessible to the average American. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was usually only the well-educated and wealthy that owned books (a young Abraham Lincoln walked miles to borrow a book); therefore, communities often rallied together to create a collection of works. The city of Providence, Rhode Island did just that, which ultimately resulted in the magnificent Providence Athenaeum.
History
In 1753, a select group of citizens in Providence, Rhode Island began the Providence Library Company with the goal of gaining access to books that they would likely not be able to afford by themselves. Members of this private organization would pay a small subscription, which was used to purchase books (the first shipment arrived from England in 1755), which were made available to all of them members. One of the earliest contributors to the company was Stephen Hopkins, a Providence native, Governor of the colony and signer of the Declaration of Independence.
The books were initially housed at the Providence court house where, in 1758, a fire destroyed a majority of the company’s early collection of 345 books (although 70 were in circulation at the time and survived). The library recovered and continued to serve its members. In 1770, after Brown University moved to Providence, the organization offered use of their collection to its students.
In 1836, the Providence Library Company and the Providence Atheneum (which began in 1831- note the slight spelling difference) merged to created the Providence Athenaeum. Seven years later in 1838, a beautiful Greek Revival building was built on Benefit Street, designed by Philadelphia architect William Strickland.
Since its founding, the Providence Athenaeum has been a bastion for authors, poets, historians and curious visitors. The beautiful architecture and vast collection of books make the athenaeum a timeless icon of the city of Providence.
Interesting Facts
- Famous visitors to the Providence Athenaeum include: Edgar Allen Poe, Ralph Waldo Emerson, H. P. Lovecraft, Bronson Alcott, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- The library possesses a collection of nearly 200,000 items
- 45 books from the library’s original collection are still in possession of the Athenaeum- they make up the Founder’s Collection
- In 1768, Stephen Hopkins compiled the first catalogue of the library’s collection
Our Visit & Recommendations
If you are visiting Providence or nearby Brown University, you do not want to pass up on the Providence Athenaeum. Whether you have an afternoon to relax with a book or only have 30 minutes to spare, its worth the visit! The library is open to the public, has no entrance fee and flexible hours (10am – 7pm Mon-Thurs / 10am – 6pm Fri-Sat / 1pm – 5pm Sun). Surprisingly, if you’d like to bring your dog or cat along, go for it- they’re pet friendly!
Upon first walking in to the library, we were overwhelmed by the massive collection of books throughout the main room and the dozens of busts displayed around the room. We wandered about the first floor and admired the artwork and architecture, including the glass lighting fixtures that line the walls (originally gaslights installed in 1849, they were converted to electric lights in 1898).
The athenaeum offers a free self-guided tour (called the Raven Tour)- near the entrance are pamphlets that you can grab that will guide you to 8 different points throughout the building or you can ask one of the friendly staff members to assist you. These 8 points include: The History and the Building, The Main Staircase and the Mezzanine, The Card Catalog, The Reference Room, The Children’s Library, The Reading Room and the Portrait of George Washington, the Philbrick Room and The Egyptian Cabinet and the H.P. Lovecraft Bronze Bust. The great thing about the tour is that you can conduct it any way you like- or simply wander about on your own.
We headed up to the mezzanine and got lost in the seemingly endless rows of bookshelves. It seemed like around every corner was a cozy nook with a table and chair, to read, relax or perhaps work on schoolwork. We took time to enjoy some of these hideouts and perused the collection of books.
Next we headed back to the entrance floor and went down the main staircase to the Reading Room. This room offers tables and chairs for individually or group study and of course, more books. This open space is often used as a venue for the library programs, including concerts and lectures.
The Reading Room is best known for a towering painting of George Washington, which is an 18th century copy of a Gilbert Stuart portrait done by an unknown Italian artist. This commanding piece of artwork was donated by the Honorable Samuel Larned not long after the building was completed in the late 1830s. Its wild to think that this rare and unique painting has quietly graced the Providence Athenaeum for over 180 years!
Just off to the side of the Reading Room is the Philbrick Rare Book Room. This room houses the special collections and archives of the athenaeum- true gems of history and literature. The Philbrick Rare Book Room can be visited by making an appointment or booking a private tour- if this interests you, be sure to call ahead (we were unable to view it on this visit). Within the Philbrick Rare Book Room is a piece of furniture known as the Egyptian Cabinet (made by local cabinet makers Millard and Lee). The cabinet was originally built to hold a 23-volume work called Description de l’Egypte, which is an account of Napoleon Bonaparte’s journey to Egypt from 1798-1801.
Our visit to the Providence Athenaeum was quite memorable. To be surrounded by so much history, literature, art and people who appreciate it all was a splendid experience. Our next visit will involve settling in for an afternoon of reading and enjoying the enriching calm that the library exudes.